John Quincy Adams July 11, 1767 – February 23, 1848 Political Party: Democratic-Republican Term: March 4, 1825 – March 4, 1829 Vice President: John C. Calhoun Thesis: John Quincy Adams was not the most popular president; he was not well liked from the moment he stepped into office. Adams was not very well liked because it was under the belief that he was part of the “corrupt bargain,” but while in office he gave all of his energy to create a better America. President John Quincy Adams deserves a C because even though he gave a good effort, most of his actions turned out to have negative effects. Adams has earned a C because of his failures and poor relationships with Congress. Goals: Adams had many goals he wished to achieve during his presidency. Being the nationalist that he was, one of his goals was internal improvements; he wished to install roads and canals. Adams proposed to extend the Cumberland Road into Ohio, and he created many canals including the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal to transport coal from the Allegheny Mountains. John Quincy Adams also renewed the George Washington’s proposal for a national university. He created the university to help America prosper in the arts and sciences departments. Relationship with Congress: From the beginning Adams’s relationship with Congress was poor. Much of the Congress was Jackson supports and they were very suspicious of the “corrupt bargain” during the election of 1824, therefore most of the Congress was against Adams. Congress denied many of Adams’s initiatives mainly because they were still furious about the election. Adams faced hostility from Congress when he proposed a national program. Adams had a difficult time during his presidency because he did not get along well with Congress. Positive Outcomes: Although John Quincy Adams had many negative outcomes, he also had one turn out to be helpful to the Union. Adams’s most positive outcome during his presidency was the construction of roads and canals. He began the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal in 1828 which allowed cargos of coal to be transported to the east from the Allegheny Mountains, as mentioned earlier. He also extended the Cumberland Road into Ohio Negative Outcomes: The most negative outcome of John Quincy Adams’s presidency is the Tariff of 1828, also known as the “Tariff of Abominations.” Although Adams’s intentions were good and it did have a positive outcome for the north because it protected their industries, the same did not occur for the south. The South was actually hurt by this; because the tariff rates were increased Britain was forced to minimize their cotton importation from the south. Vice President John C. Calhoun was completely against the tariff and argued for nullification. South Carolina was encouraged by Calhoun to nullify the tariff as well, and so they did. South Carolina nullified the Tariff of 1828 by declaring it unconstitutional. Future Impact: Despite all of Adams’s negativities, his longing for roads and canals impacted future America and its development. However, Presidents Adams’s largest impact on future America and American presidents was probably the Tariff of 1828, which was actually a positive from the north’s view but a negative from the south’s. The “Tariff of Abominations” created a headache for the succeeding President Andrew Jackson because it caused the Nullification Crisis. Conclusion: In conclusion, President John Quincy Adams deserves a C because of his many failures and few successes. Although America might have been better off if another candidate was chosen during the election of 1824, Adams did help American development slightly with the construction of roads and canals, mostly the Cumberland Road and the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. Adams did, however, create a lot of chaos with the Tariff of 1828 which I am sure America could have done without. Overall Adams’s presidency was a grade C effort that could have played out in a more positive way if he had had more supporters and fewer enemies. Nonetheless we made it threw the era of Adams’s presidency with positive and negative outcomes and a well-developed future America. Sources: "John Quincy Adams |." The White House. Web. 05 Mar. 2010. <http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/johnquincyadams>. "John Quincy Adams -." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 05 Mar. 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Quincy_Adams>. "John Quincy Adams Biography - 6th President of the United States." American History From About. Web. 05 Mar. 2010. <http://americanhistory.about.com/od/johnquincyadams/p/pjqadams.htm>.
John Quincy Adams
July 11, 1767 – February 23, 1848
Political Party: Democratic-Republican
Term: March 4, 1825 – March 4, 1829
Vice President: John C. Calhoun
Thesis:
John Quincy Adams was not the most popular president; he was not well liked from the moment he stepped into office. Adams was not very well liked because it was under the belief that he was part of the “corrupt bargain,” but while in office he gave all of his energy to create a better America. President John Quincy Adams deserves a C because even though he gave a good effort, most of his actions turned out to have negative effects. Adams has earned a C because of his failures and poor relationships with Congress.
Goals:
Adams had many goals he wished to achieve during his presidency. Being the nationalist that he was, one of his goals was internal improvements; he wished to install roads and canals. Adams proposed to extend the Cumberland Road into Ohio, and he created many canals including the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal to transport coal from the Allegheny Mountains. John Quincy Adams also renewed the George Washington’s proposal for a national university. He created the university to help America prosper in the arts and sciences departments.
Relationship with Congress:
From the beginning Adams’s relationship with Congress was poor. Much of the Congress was Jackson supports and they were very suspicious of the “corrupt bargain” during the election of 1824, therefore most of the Congress was against Adams. Congress denied many of Adams’s initiatives mainly because they were still furious about the election. Adams faced hostility from Congress when he proposed a national program. Adams had a difficult time during his presidency because he did not get along well with Congress.
Positive Outcomes:
Although John Quincy Adams had many negative outcomes, he also had one turn out to be helpful to the Union. Adams’s most positive outcome during his presidency was the construction of roads and canals. He began the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal in 1828 which allowed cargos of coal to be transported to the east from the Allegheny Mountains, as mentioned earlier. He also extended the Cumberland Road into Ohio
Negative Outcomes:
The most negative outcome of John Quincy Adams’s presidency is the Tariff of 1828, also known as the “Tariff of Abominations.” Although Adams’s intentions were good and it did have a positive outcome for the north because it protected their industries, the same did not occur for the south. The South was actually hurt by this; because the tariff rates were increased Britain was forced to minimize their cotton importation from the south. Vice President John C. Calhoun was completely against the tariff and argued for nullification. South Carolina was encouraged by Calhoun to nullify the tariff as well, and so they did. South Carolina nullified the Tariff of 1828 by declaring it unconstitutional.
Future Impact:
Despite all of Adams’s negativities, his longing for roads and canals impacted future America and its development. However, Presidents Adams’s largest impact on future America and American presidents was probably the Tariff of 1828, which was actually a positive from the north’s view but a negative from the south’s. The “Tariff of Abominations” created a headache for the succeeding President Andrew Jackson because it caused the Nullification Crisis.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, President John Quincy Adams deserves a C because of his many failures and few successes. Although America might have been better off if another candidate was chosen during the election of 1824, Adams did help American development slightly with the construction of roads and canals, mostly the Cumberland Road and the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. Adams did, however, create a lot of chaos with the Tariff of 1828 which I am sure America could have done without. Overall Adams’s presidency was a grade C effort that could have played out in a more positive way if he had had more supporters and fewer enemies. Nonetheless we made it threw the era of Adams’s presidency with positive and negative outcomes and a well-developed future America.
Sources:
"John Quincy Adams |." The White House. Web. 05 Mar. 2010. <http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/johnquincyadams>.
"John Quincy Adams -." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 05 Mar. 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Quincy_Adams>.
"John Quincy Adams Biography - 6th President of the United States." American History From About. Web. 05 Mar. 2010. <http://americanhistory.about.com/od/johnquincyadams/p/pjqadams.htm>.